East of Scotland Girls' Championship
 Seventeen-year
old Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst) won the East of Scotland Girls Championship
today at rain-soaked Turnhouse after a considerable tussle with twelve-year
old Jane Turner (Glencorse). The match finished at the seventeenth, with
Laura the victor by 2&1.
In the morning semifinals, Laura beat Amanda Edwards (Liberton) by 1 hole
after being two down at the turn, and Jane beat Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline)
at the 19th.
The final was a close contest. Jane took an early lead with a par 5 at
the first after Laura took three from the edge. The next two holes were
halved in pars, then Laura got the match back to square at the long fourth
with a par. She won two of the next three holes, but Jane played a perfect
tee-shot to the short ninth and was one down at the turn.
They halved the 10th in par, then Laura stepped in to go two up again
after Jane three-putted the short eleventh. Jane won the long twelfth
with a par, but the difference went back to two when Laura won the thirteenth.
Perhaps the old adage "two up with five to play never wins"
must have been running through the players minds, for Jane took the next
two holes with pars to bring the match back to square.
At the sixteenth, both had excellent drives, but Jane under-clubbed her
approach and Laura gritted her teeth and put her ball to five feet. Jane's
chip was conceded, and then Laura slotted her birdie putt to go one up.
A par three at the 237 yard seventeenth, gave Laura the match and the
trophy.
Their best-ball score was level par, which was excellent in very wet conditions.
The two beaten semi-finalists caddied for the players which added to the
friendly atmosphere of the final.
Five handicap, Laura Aitken still has another year in Junior golf, and
thirteen handicap Jane Turner, who is just going into second year at Watson's,
has six more years in which to shine.
Semifinals
Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst) beat Amanda Edwards (Liberton) 1 hole
Jane Turner (Glencorse) beat Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) at 19th.
Final
Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst) beat Jane Turner (Glencorse) 2&1
|
